ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Junior Morgan Dankanich (Glenmoore, Pa.) added another goal to her Patriot League lead in the eighth minute to down Lehigh, 2-0, on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility. At 7-0 in League play, the Mids are three points away from locking down the No. 1 seed and the ability to host the semifinals and finals.

Navy (14-3-0, 7-0-0 Patriot League) played its second consecutive complete game, showing a dominant performance on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. The Mids outshot Lehigh (4-9-2, 2-5-0 Patriot League), 17-5, and held a steep advantage in corner kicks, 5-1.

“We had games early where we only attack well, then had some games that the defense carried us, then we would see games where our midfield helped our possession out with attacks and counterattacks,” said head coach Carin Gabarra. “But now, we are finally putting it all together into one package and it is the time of the year where we want to do this.”

The Mids came out firing in the first half of play with a goal from Dankanich in the eighth minute. Navy used a counterattack, as Jade Seabrook ended a Lehigh attack and sent a pass to midfielder Kaylie Davidson.

Davidson flipped a ball over a Lehigh attacker and began the Mids attack. As Davidson crossed over half field, she led a pass down the sidelines to Dankanich. Dankanich took two steps, rocketed a shot from just inside the 18 and beat Lehigh’s Ani Nahapetian.

Down 1-0 just eight minutes into the contest, Lehigh looked to retaliate with the equalizer. From the kickoff at midfield, a Mountain Hawk midfielder sent a volley into the defensive third with Danielle Salans streaking into the box. Salans took control of possession directed Lehigh’s best offensive opportunity just over the crossbar.

Navy continued its attack in the 36th minute. With Lehigh looking to sail a ball to midfield, Julie Schumacher recovered the ball inside midfield.

Schumacher sent a low-liner into the box. Lily Kraemer juggled the ball with one bounce and drove her shot to the far post, beating Nahapetian for Navy’s early insurance goal of the contest.

Navy’s defense, with a 2-0 lead, held Lehigh for the final 45 minutes to secure its seventh Patriot League win. The Mids allowed three shots and one corner kick in the second half, while not allowing a threatening offensive opportunity.

Navy goalkeeper Elizabeth Hoerner recorded her ninth shutout of the season, tallying three saves in 90 minutes. Nahapetian made eight saves on 10 chances in Lehigh’s loss.

The Mids host Loyola (Md.) in their final regular-season home match of 2013 on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 1 p.m. The match will be streamed live and for free on the Patriot League Digital Net